Producer-gas apparatus



2, 19%. E. scHuMAciHE PRODUCER GAS APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1925 'jnoanto a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 12, 1930. SCHUMACHER 1,772,819

PRODUCER GAS APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2e drying and distilling chamber, and thus prevents unnecessary compression of the layers Patented Aug. 12, 1930 & ITED STAT-ES, PATENT OFFICE ERNST SCHUMACHER, 0F FRANUORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY, ASSIG-NOB OF ONE- HALF TO THE CORPORATION OF FRANKFURTER GASGESELLSCHAFT, OF FRANK- FORTQN-THE-MAIN, GERMANY PRODUGERGAS APPARATUS npplication filed January 24, 1925, Serial No. 4,491, and in Germany February 1, 1924.

The object of the present invention is to provide a low temperature carbonization and drying apparatus,-specially adapted for producer gas generating chambers, but also 5 suitable for roasting furnaces and drying ovens of all kinds and for similar apparatus. The low temperature carbonization tops hitherto in use are attended by the drawback that, especially when charged with crumbly brown-coal or peat, the material in the low temperature carbonization apparatus packs and tends to hang, thus necessitating more stoking. The separation of the fires also causes irregularity in the operation of the gas producer.

These drawbacks are obviated according to the present invention by interposing between the coal distillation chamber and the producer gas generating chamber a check plate which supports the material contained in the of fuel in the gas producing chamber. The check plate is so arranged that the material is uniformly removed at the edge and distributed in the gas producing chamber. Means are also provided enabling the producer gases, instead of having to make their way through the entire column of material, as in the case of the drying and distilling chambers hitherto used, and which results in a considerable loss of pressure to be led transversely through the material to be pre-dried so that only slight resistance has to be overcome. This result is achieved more particularly by providing centrallyin the fuel feeding and distillation chamber a tube with corresponding openings, the producer gases entering said tube and then flowing transversely through the fuel in the chamber and being drawn off through corresponding openings in the outer jacket. The movement of the gases may also be from the outside towards the center. The openings in the tubes are overhung by pockets or shields which prevent the openingsfrom getting choked, andv to prevent the fuel from falling through; whilst on the other hand, they can also; be used as conveyor means for the fuel and either the inner or the outer tube or both vertical longitudinal sectionan embodi ment in which the inner tube is adapted to rotate. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of an embodiment in which the gases, instead of passing outwards from the center as in the preceding embodiments, pass through the coal in the distillation apparatus towards the center from the outside.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the producer body is marked 1. At the bottom of the body 1 is an apron 22 depending into an ash pan 2O rotatable about a blast admission means and grate 21, all well known. Upon it is arranged the distillation apparatus which is provided with a charging hopper 2 and distributing cone 3. The coal distillation apparatus has a fixed outer shell 4, which leads the gases from the producer away through the pipe 5. Inside this shell is arranged a rotatable tube 6, into which the coal to be dried and distilled is charged from above. This tube 6 is provided with inwardly projectingpockets or shields, which open on the under side at 8, so that the gases distilled from the coal, together with the producer gases, pass through these openings into the jacket space 4, and thence into the discharge pipe 5. Thetube 6 can be set in rotation by means of an operating device 9 with a worm and worm wheel, or by any similar arrangement.

In the interior of the tube 6 is a second of pockets 11 and 12 are arranged so as to produce a conveying effect on the material contained in the apparatus when the outer tube 6 is setin rotation.

Underneath the distillation chamber is arranged a fixed check plate v13, which adn 1' '11, I LMJI L .Q 2... l A Z,-. n m mlts custineu Iue1 now the distillati u uhiuuber into the producing chamber or body;

Above this plate arescraper arms 14, connected to and rotating with the tube 6. In rotating, these arms scrape the fuel from the check plate 13 and allow it to fall down over the rim of the plate.

Undeineath the plate is an arm 15, which is also connected to the tube 6, so as to rotate with the latter and the .scrapers 13. This arm 15 carries a number of spreaders 16 (see also Fig. 3) which distributes the distilled fuel uniformly over the top stratum in the producer gas generating chamber.

When the apparatusis in operation, the raw fuel charged into the hopper 2 is distributed by the cone 3 so as to fall between the tubes 6 and 10 and pile up on the check plate 13. When the tube 6 is rotated by means of the drive .9 the distilled fuel is scraped ofi the check plate 13 by the scraper arms 14, and falls on to the spreaders 16, which distribute it uniformly in the producer gas generating chamber. At the same time, the material in the fuel feeding device is conveyed and loosened by the pockets 7 and, 11.

The hot producer gases from the gas generating chamber pass into the tube 10 and, issuing through the openings 12 in the same, flow transversely through the fuel in the coal distillation apparatus, thereby heating the fuel and carrying off the water vapor and other distillation products. The gases and mixed vapors then pass through the openings 8 of the pockets 7 of the outer tube 6 into the jacket 4 and are drawn off through the pipe 5.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the arrangement is similar, but in this case the inner tube 10 is adapted to be rotated, whereas the outer tube 6 is stationary. For this purpose, the inner tube 10 is provided with the worm drive 9, and is connected on the other hand with the distributors l4 and arm 15. Here again, the hot producer gases flow through the material in the fuel distillation gipparatus from the centre outwards, as beore.

The embodiment according to Fig. 4 corresponds with that of Fig. 1 so that, in consequence, the tube 6 is set in rotary motion by the drive 9, whilst the tube 10 is stationary. In this case there is only one point of difference, namely, that the producer gases pass through the material in the distilling and drying apparatus from the outside towards the centre, that is to say, they pass from the producer into the jacket 4 in the first place, and then through the openings 12 of the pockets 11 of the fixed inner tube 10. This tube 10 is connected at the upper end with the gas discharge pipe 5.

In all the embodiments, the check plate 13 may be either flat or' conical, or even spherical. It may also be provided with ribs, and,

if necessary, be rotatably mo ers 14 being dispensed with.

Instead of having only one of the tubes 6, and 10, rotatable, they may both be adapted to rotate, either at the same or different speeds and in the same or opposite directions.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a producer gas apparatus, the combination with an outer shell and a stationary plate therebelow of a pair of concentric, spaced, perforated tubes co-extensive with and in the shell and between which fuel is supplied at their top, means to produce relative rotation of the tubes, a scraper cooperating with the plate and rotated with one of the tubes, and a single gas discharge pipe for gases in the shell.

2. In a producer gas apparatus, the combination with an outer stationary shell and a stationary plate spaced therebelow; of a pair of concentric spaced perforated tubes in the shell and spaced therefrom, shields for the perforations of the tubes to prevent the passage of material charged between the tubes at their top, and supported on said-plate, from passing through the perforations, and

ed tr.. wra l.

means to rotate one tube relatively to the withdraw gas after passing transversely through the descending fuel between the tubes.

4. In a producer gas apparatus having a gas producing chamber, the combination with an outer shell and a stationary plate below the same to support fuel; of a pair of concentric, spaced tubes in the shell, spaced from it, means to rotate one of the tubes, scraper means connected to the bottom of the rotating tube and cooperating with the plate to scrape material, over its edge, and a rotating spreader below the plate to maintain the top of'the charge level in the gas producing chamber.

5. In a producer gas apparatus, the combination witha stationary outer shell and a stationary plate therebelow; of a central perforated tube therein and a second perforated tube between the first tube and shell, the material to be fed downwardly between the tubes, means to rotate one tube with respect to the other, and means to discharge gases passing through the perforations and transversely through the descendingcharge.

6. In a producer gas apparatus, comprissolid fuel into the entering one chamber passing radially 4 through the annular column of fuel into the other chamber, and means to support the fuel column and discharge fuel from the bottom thereof.

7; In a producer gas apparatus, comprising an outer shell, a stationary plate therebelow, a' central tube having perforations in said shell, a'tube arranged between the central tube and shell also having perforations, downwardly inclined shields for the perforations of both tubes to prevent the passage of fuel therethrough, means to rotate one of the tubes, scrapers rotatable with the latter tube and cooperating with said plate, there being a tubular body of fuel between the perforated tubes that rests on the plate and through which body gases pass from the perforations in one tube through the perforations in the other tube, and means to conduct such gases away after such passage.

8. A producer gas apparatus including in combination, a gas producing chamber, a fuel distillation and drying chamber thereabove and having an outer shell, a gas outlet leading from the shell,- and a fuel charging mechanism in the shell for admitting distilled solid fuel into the gas producing chamber from the gas distillation and drying chamber thereabove, comprising a pair of spaced perforated tubes one within the other in the shell of the distillation chamber, and means to produce relative rotation of the concentric tubes.

9. A gas producer apparatus including in combination, a gas producing chamber, a fuel distillation and drying chamber thereabove and having an outer shell, a gas outlet leading from the shell, and a fuel charging mechanism in the shell for admitting distilled gas producing chamber from the as distillation and dryin chamber therea ove, comprising a pair 0 spaced perforated tubes one within the other in the shell of the distillation chamber, means to produce relative rotation of the concentric tubes, a stationary plate below the tubes and a scraper attached to the movable shell to scrape fuel therefrom into the gas produc ing chamber.

10. A producer gas apparatus including in combination, a gas producing chamber, a fuel distillation and drying chamber thereabove and having an outer shell, a gas outlet leading from the shell, and a fuel charging mechanism in the shell for admitting distilled solid fuel into the gas producing chamher from the gas distillation and drying chamber thereabove, comprising a pair of spaced, perforated tubes one within the other in the shell of the chamber, means to reduce relative rotation of the concentric tu es, and means connected to the rotatable tube to level the fuel delivered into the gas producing chamber.

11. In a producer gas apparatus including in combination, a gas producing chamber,

a fuel distillation and drying chamber there-' above and having a shell, a gas outlet leading from the shell, and a fuel charging mechanism in the shell for admitting distilled, dried solid fuel into the gas producing chamber from the gas distillation and drying chamber thereabove, comprising a pair of concentric tubes in the shell of the distillation and drying chamber,a guard over each perforation of the tubes directed into the space between the tubes, and means to rotate the outer tube. 4

- 12. In a producer gas apparatus including in combination, a gas producing chamber, a fuel distillation and drying chamber thereabove and having a shell, a gas outlet lead ing from the shell, and a fuel charging mechanism in the shell for admitting distilled, dried solid fuel into the gas producing chamber from the gas distillation and drying chamber thereabove, comprising a pair of concentric tubes in the shell of the distillation and drying chamber, a guard over each perforation of the tubes directed into the space between the tubes, a stationary plate in the gas producing chamber and a scraper.

connected to the outer tube to scrape the fuel from said plate into the gas producing chamber.

13. In a producer gas apparatus including in combination, a gas producing chamber, a

' fuel distillation. and drymg chamber thereabove and having a shell, a gas outlet leading from the shell, and a fuel charging mechanism in the shell for admitting distilled, dried solid fuel into the gas producing chamber from the gas distillation and drying chamber thereabove, comprising a pair of concentric tubes, in the shell of the distillation and drying chamber, a guard over each perforation of the tubes directed into the space between the tubes, means to rotate the outer tube and means connected with the outer tube to level the fuel discharged into the gas producing chamber.

14. In a. producer gas apparatus including in combination, a gas producing chamber, a fuel distillation and drying chamber thereabove and having a shell, a gas outlet leading from the shell, and a fuel charging mecha nism in the shell for admitting distilled, dried solid fuel into the gas producing chamber from the gas distillation and drying chamber thereabove, "comprising a pair of space between the tubes, a stationary plate in the gas producing chamber and a, scrapez connected to the outer tube to scrape the fuel from said plate into the gas producing chamber, and a levelling devlce for the fuel discharged into the gas producing chamber cannected to said scraper.

In testimony whereof I afiix my ERNST SCHUMAfiWIR 

